Why, and for whom, I write.

Art by Annie Laramée

As I sat in front of the computer, listening to the birds singing and the occasional noise the handyman made as he worked on some patio doors, I got to thinking. Why and for whom did I write The Profiler's Shadow?

So, here are my thoughts as they came to mind. My purpose is to incorporate LGBTQ+ characters into the thriller genre by prioritizing high-stakes action and suspense while normalizing queer identities, making that a natural element of the narrative. As a queer, transgender woman, I try to craft the story to appeal to mainstream psychological thriller fans while providing authentic, intersectional representation.

Yes, most of my main characters are queer. I position those characters—like Mary Dubois—smack dab into traditional, high-action thriller formulas. The plot focuses on outsmarting a serial killer. I intentionally structured the suspense and plot twists to captivate as wide and diverse an audience of traditional mystery and crime readers as possible. It's true, I write to show that queer protagonists can front mainstream, fast-paced action stories.

Because of my personal background, including past community work with trans individuals in Montreal, writing LGBTQ+ perspectives comes naturally to me. I treat the diversity of the cast as a regular reflection of everyday life rather than a teaching tool.

I model my genre integration (procedural/psychological thriller/queer) after seasoned trans thriller authors like Dharma Kelleher, Robyn Gigl, and Renee James, who have successfully carved out space for complex queer protagonists in crime fiction. When I first started out, and now, they remain true inspirations.
Joelle